Hello and welcome! Please understand that this website is not affiliated with Jean Desprez in any way, it is only a reference page for collectors and those who have enjoyed the classic fragrances of days gone by.

One of the goals of this website is to show the present owners of the Jean Desprez perfume company how much we miss the discontinued classics and hopefully, if they see that there is enough interest and demand, they will bring back these fragrances!

Please leave a comment below (for example: of why you liked the fragrance, describe the scent, time period or age you wore it, who gave it to you or what occasion, any specific memories, what it reminded you of, maybe a relative wore it, or you remembered seeing the bottle on their vanity table), who knows, perhaps someone from the current Jean Desprez brand might see it.

Thursday, January 2, 2020

40 Love by Jean Desprez c1947

In 1947, Jean Desprez created his only unisex fragrance, named 40 Amour (40 Love),  a crisp, sporty fragrance capturing the spirit of tennis.





Spanish sculptor Juan Palas designed special trophies for the tennis and golf tournament held during the launch party of the fragrance.



Fragrance Composition:



So what does it smell like? It is classified as a fougere fragrance for men. 40 Love contained pine oil, tarragon, oakmoss and sun ripened hay, plus a secret extract said to give off "the frail insistent smell of pure linen drying on a lawn."
  • Top notes: aldehydes, bergamot, tarragon, geranium, lemon, lavender, marjoram
  • Middle notes: gardenia, jasmine, rose, dried fruits, hay, pine oil, orris, galbanum, opoponax
  • Base notes: styrax, castoreum, labdanum, amber, oakmoss, Tonkin musk, leather, sandalwood, civet, vetiver

La Coiffure de Paris, 1951:
"40 Love - Good-smelling water for sports. Use like eau de cologne or eau de toilette. Practical and durable, perfectly airtight bottle in the shape of a cognac 'flask'. Capacity: 9cl 5 - 18cl. - Jean Desprez."



Bottle:

Available in the following:
  • 4 oz Eau de Cologne Splash Pour Les Messieurs (Special for Men) 
  • 8 oz Eau de Cologne Splash Pour Les Messieurs (Special for Men)




Fate of the Fragrance:


Popular in 1960s, discontinued and brought back in 1975 as a men's fragrance, in both Eau de Toilette, Eau de Cologne and Aftershave, distributed by Alfin.

Alfin was the exclusive importer and distributor of "Bal a Versailles," "Jardanel" and "40 Love" by Parfums Jean Desprez, Paris during this time.

Discontinued. Still sold in 1984.
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1 comment:

  1. UnknownJanuary 5, 2020 at 11:52 AM

    In the 1970s this was my fragrance of choice. I remember buying 40-Love at a wonderful men's shop in Westwood Village at UCLA called Alandales--their clothes were exquisite! Actually, as I understand from its new owner, she acquired the shop and relocated it to Culver City some years ago, to carry on the tradition, but alas it is just not the same nor could it ever be. All I know is I want my 40-Love back--I miss it terribly! Can we ever wish to see it again?

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